ICT Update: July 5, 2018

August, 2018: Second ASEAN-US Digital Policy Consultative Forum: The Council will host its second roundtable discussion of the ASEAN-US Digital Policy Consultative Forum on the side lines of the 2018 ASEAN TELSOM Leaders’ meeting in Singapore, the week of August 13. The discussion agenda topics to be included in the second Forum are currently being formulated. For more information about the Forum, please contact Shay Wester at swester@usasean.org or Mario Masaya at mmasaya@usasean.org.

THE COUNCIL'S TAKE

ASEAN Concludes Regional E-Commerce Negotiations

From July 1 through July 5, the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Electronic Commerce (ACCEC) held its final rounds of negotiation before the upcoming Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM). While negotiations have occurred at a slow pace, Singapore, serving as the Chair of ASEAN, has pushed for their conclusion this year. The Agreement is modeled after the e-commerce chapter in the ASEAN-Australian-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and contains sections promoting trade facilitation, the free flow of data across borders, as well as the adoption of international best practices for cyber security (click here to access Chapter 10 of the AANZFTA).

Many of the provisions in the Agreement are vague and non-binding. For example, while the Logistics chapter of the Agreement pledges for members to share and engage in best practices, it does not contain substantive measures or guidelines for countries to follow. Additionally, the Agreement includes a commitment to minimize barriers to cross-border data flows but omits any operative clauses for its realization. Despite these challenges, the private sector has been working diligently to support a vibrant digital economy in ASEAN. Last summer, the Council joined a consultation with the ACCEC to encourage forward-looking approaches to logistics upgrades, customs clearance, and other pertinent issues. While the payments gateway remains a problem, the negotiators have taken positive steps to recognize international frameworks on technology policy.

On June 27, representatives from all ten ASEAN countries met in Thailand to discuss possible countermeasures against cybercrime in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) hosted the seminar after several international cybercriminals stole millions of Baht from Thai victims through call centers.

Thailand’s Permanent Secretary for Justice Wisit Wisitsoraat pushed for a unified ASEAN approach to cybercrime, given loopholes in international laws that cybercriminals frequently utilize. Wisit advocated for increased communication and exchanges of information between law enforcement officials throughout ASEAN to suppress cyber threats. Citing Thailand’s Computer Crimes Act, Wisit called for member countries to adopt and implement legislation to help develop a regional system capable of detecting and preventing cybercrime.

As ASEAN countries increase their efforts to develop cyber security policies to support the growth of digital economies, attention to cybercrime activity has been inadequate. ASEAN’s generally low cyber resilience and varying levels of cyber readiness put the region at great risk for cybersecurity threats, including cybercrime. These challenges can undermine the full benefits of the digital economy, which has the potential to add $1 trillion to the region’s GDP over the next 10 years. While this meeting did not result in any substantive changes, the region’s concern with cybercrime may prompt further policy discussions during the upcoming ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity (AMCC) in September. The Council’s participation in the Singapore Joint Cyber Security Working Group (JCSWG) offers members an excellent platform to engage policy makers in Singapore and regionally on best practices and approaches to formulating anti cybercrime efforts. Interested members can contact Shay Wester at: swester@usasean.org.

DICT Releases Selection Criteria for Third Telco Player

On June 26, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) released the second draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the selection of the country’s third major telco player. The revised TOR was crafted with the help of the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union and will undergo a public consultation for stakeholders. Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte invited foreign firms to become the third telco player in the Philippines’ wireless communication market to break the duopoly of industry giants PLDT and Globe Telecom and improve overall service. The National Telecommunications Committee (NTC) will grant the selected telco player a 15-year certificate of public convenience and necessity along with a set of frequencies in the 700 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.3 GHz, and 3.5 GHz bands. Malacañang had initially said that the third telecom would be announced within the first quarter of 2018. More recently, DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. has said that the selection would be made before the end of 2018.

To participate in the selection process to be the third telco player, a company or consortium must meet the following criteria:

Possess a congressional franchise that is “not a related party” to dominant players (i.e. PLDT or Globe Telecom);

Have no outstanding liabilities;

Have paid-in capital of at least P10 billion (US$187 million); and

Have at least five years of experience in the delivery and operation of telecommunications service.

The Philippines Telecommunications industry faces challenges due to insufficient infrastructure. The country’s relatively lower number of cell phone towers has negatively impacted the quality of telecommunications technology available to its citizens. While the government intends to increase infrastructure spending for this purpose, the smaller number of cell phone towers has discouraged greater interest in this market.

Additionally, the new telco player will have to make several commitments to ensure that it can compete with PLDT and Globe Telecom. For example, the selected telco will commit to spending P40 billion in capital and operating expenditures per year; and have to amend its articles of incorporation so that it cannot merge with one of the other two telco players. If it does merge, it will have to return its assigned radio frequencies to the NTC to prevent spectrum hoarding. The selected telco will also have to deposit a performance security equivalent to either 10% as a cash bond or 30% as surety bond of its annual budgeted capital and operational expenditure commitment, as well as deposit 20% of its annual capital and operational expenditure with Land Bank of the Philippines. The telco can withdraw the latter deposit only after spending at least 30% of its annual committed budget. The DICT intends for the latter two requirements in particular to show that the selected telco has the financial means to effectively compete with PLDT and Globe Telecom.

On June 26, the US-ASEAN Business Council held its first US-ASEAN Digital Policy Consultative Forum (“the Forum”) in Grand Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the side line of the ASEAN Telecommunication Senior Officials Meeting and ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators’ Council Joint Working Group (TELSOM-ATRC JWG) meeting. The Forum discussed the latest trends on innovation tools and regional policy surrounding these innovative tools in the region, including issues surrounding cybersecurity, connectivity, the use of big data, cross border data flow, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, adoption of emerging technologies, etc. For more information about the Forum, please contact Shay Wester at swester@usasean.org or Mario Masaya at mmasaya@usasean.org.

On July 2, US-ASEAN Business Council President & CEO Alex Feldman met with Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information Technology Rudiantara regarding the status of the Draft Amendment to Indonesia’s GR 82. The Council was given a copy of the Draft Amendment in February and submitted a joint industry letter offering input. While the current Draft Amendment is an improvement to the original regulation, it could still allow sectoral agencies to impose data localization requirements by categorizing data as “strategic”, albeit with a request to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology (see Article 83K(2&3)).

The meeting with the Minister followed a Council-wide conference call on the Draft Amendment, where members outlined forward-looking strategies for further engagement with the Indonesian government. Minister Rudiantara affirmed that the Draft Amendment is still stalled in the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Regarding Article 83K and the issue of data categorization, Minister Rudiantara told the Council he would ensure sectoral ministries understand that they should consult with his Ministry prior to imposing data localization requirements. While Minister Rudiantara has not voiced significant support for data localization policies, the Council will closely monitor for potential new risks during the upcoming regional elections this year and general elections in 2019. Please contact Artha Sirait (asirait@usasean.org) with any questions.

Brunei government cautions public of hoax callsXinhua 5th Jul 2018
The public of Brunei are reminded to be wary of scammers using mobile and landline phones to acquire personal information with the intention of causing financial loss, government agencies said Tuesday.

Cambodia

Cambodia witnesses first of its kind data centre buildThe Stack 25th Jun 2018
A $70 million (approx. £53 million) deal for a new data centre in Cambodia has been agreed, with the planned site being the largest in the country. The project has come about as a result of a collaboration between local IT firms Te Aikhong Enterprise and Kepstar Data Center, who recently inked a deal with Fourtitude Asia, which operates out of Malaysia.

Election Body Uses Telecoms Providers to Encourage People to VoteVOA 21st Jun 2018
The head of Cambodia’s official election body has said the organization is using a telecommunications company to encourage Cambodians to vote in the upcoming general elections. Sik Bunhok, chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC), sent a text message to mobile phone users urging people to be “ready and prepared with relevant documents for voting”.

Indonesia

Telkom Ready to Support Industrial Revolution 4.0Jakarta Globe 1st Jul 2018
Dian Rachmawan, enterprise and business service director at Telkom Indonesia, and Sanny Iskandar, chairman of the Indonesian Industrial Estates Association, signed a memorandum of understanding on the provision and development of telecommunication, information, media, edutainment & services in Jakarta on Thursday (28/06).

Industrial Revolution Poses Challenge for Future Human ResourcesTempo 30th Jun 2018
Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri said that the most challenging issue facing Indonesia ahead of the industrial age 4.0 is the matter of human resources and their skills. “The human resource alone is not enough, they must bear a good set of skills,” said Hanif in a college graduation in Tangerang today, June 30.

Kalla encourages merchants to use e-commerce - ANTARA NewsAntara News 25th Jun 2018
Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla asked the Bugis-Makasar merchants in Makassar city, South Sulawesi province to utilize electronic commerce (e-commerce) to improve and develop their business. He said on Sunday that business world has undergone online commerce so that the Bugis merchants should adapt to the business development.

Laos

Laos to apply Vietnamese tech for e-governance - News VietNamNetVietnamnet 22nd Jun 2018
Laos will use Blockchain technology developed by a Vietnamese company for the e-governance use, becoming the third country globally after Estonia and Dubai using the technology in this area. The signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of digital identity using Blockchain technology.

Malaysia

Digital economy raises job loss fearsThe Sun Daily 5th Jul 2018
At least two in five Malaysian employees (43%) feel their jobs are at risk due to an increasingly digital economy, according to Workday, an enterprise cloud applications company for finance and human resources.

Higher salary growth, job numbers in ICT sector last yearThe Sun Daily 3rd Jul 2018
The ICT employment market in Malaysia in 2017 showed improvement in salary growth and higher number of jobs compared to 2016. The overall average monthly salary of ICT Professionals grew to RM8,908 in 2017, a 5% growth from RM8,484 in 2016. This was a better growth compared to 4.6% in 2016.

Making it mandatory to declare data breachesQishin Tariq 2nd Jul 2018
With the increasing number of data ­breaches in the country, it is high time to make it mandatory for companies in Malaysia to disclose such incidents. IBM Resilient cyber security and privacy program director, Gant Redmon, says a definitive law would remove any grey area on whether a company should or shouldn’t declare a breach.

Pikom says no wrongdoings in relation to HRDFThe Sun Daily 27th Jun 2018
The National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom) has denied any wrongdoings by its current chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah, and one of its past chairmen, in relation to the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) amid allegations of RM300 million being misappropriated from the fund.

Philippines

Electronic exports up 3.3% in Jan-April – SeipiThe Manila Times Online 3rd Jul 2018
REVENUES from electronic exports increased by 3.3 percent to $11.75 billion (P627.8 billion) in the first four months of 2018 from $11.38 billion (P608.03 billion) in the same period last year, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Foundation Inc. (Seipi) said.

DoF questions ‘third player’ selection via ‘beauty contest’Business World 2nd Jul 2018
FINANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the selection of the third entrant to the telecommunications industry must be “fair” to the public by making telcos pay to use the frequency they are allocated. “Why should we allow a system where we give it for free and the private sector makes money out of it? Why should we have a system where the public is denied fees? It’s a matter of fairness for the Filipino people,” Mr. Dominguez said yesterday during a media briefing after the Development Budget Coordination Committee meeting. “If you look at the past way that the telcos were chosen, it was by ‘beauty contest.’ And what is the result of that? Look at the situation we have now. That is the result of how it was allocated in the past… people who were allocated these resources for free, turned around and sold them for enormous amounts of money,” he added. “So obviously there is a value to the frequencies.”

BMI: Third telco search shows ‘little momentum’The Manila Times Online 2nd Jul 2018
THE search for a new telco player has shown “little momentum” despite the release of proposed selection rules, BMI Research said, with an alternative to the PLDT-Globe duopoly likely to be up and running only by the end of next year “at the earliest.” Commenting on a draft terms of reference (TOR) released last week, the Fitch Group unit said that new criteria had eased some technical requirements but also raised new demands for the prospective challenger.

DICT eyeing internet services by power co-opsThe Manila Times Online 2nd Jul 2018
ELECTRIC cooperatives (ECs) can serve as internet providers in their respective franchise areas, the chief of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said. The department is in discussions with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to make 121 power co-ops internet service providers (ISPs), DICT officer-in-charge Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. told reporters.

High-speed Internet should be a basic service in PHThe Manila Times Online 1st Jul 2018
The Philippines should follow in the footsteps of Canada, which has declared broadband a basic telecommunications service to pave the way for all citizens to enjoy high-speed Internet access, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said on Sunday. “Our sense is, the quickest way to provide all Filipinos, especially those in the countryside, high-speed Internet access is for us to do what the Canadians did,” Campos said.

PHL seen recovering from drop in digital-competitive rankingBusinessMirror 27th Jun 2018
THE Philippines should recover from its 10-point drop in digital competitive ranking in the next two years, as green shoots of recovery start to bud with the government’s stepping in to bridge the digital divide through infrastructure buildup and companies’ allocating more money for their digital-transformation initiatives. International Data Corp. (IDC) Philippines Manager Sudev Bangah said the country should recover from its plunge into the 56th spot in the 2018 World Digital Competitiveness Rankings of Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) by 2020.

Revised draft terms for third telco player outphilstar.com 26th Jun 2018
The government on Tuesday released the revised draft Terms of Reference, which spells out the rules and regulations in choosing the country’s new telecom carrier. In a statement, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the much-awaited draft TOR was released so stakeholders can examine the document ahead of a public consultation that will be held next week. “It is without prejudice to further changes deemed necessary,” the DICT said. Based on the draft TOR, companies that want to be the third telco must have a congressional franchise and have no outstanding liabilities. Applicants must also have a paid capital of at least P10 billion and five years of experience in the delivery and operations of telecommunications services.

BSP, big banks firm up moves vs cyber threats | BusinessWorldBusiness World 3rd Jul 2018
BIG BANKS are teaming up for an industry-wide monitoring scheme for cyber breaches just as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is set to impose a one-day reporting period for such incidents. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier said the central bank is linking up with the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) in order to set up a reporting platform for cyber threats. Ms. Fonacier said the BSP will soon release a new circular that will require all financial firms to report glitches, hacking and other forms of cyber security breaches to the central bank within 24 hours from detection. The BSP is “ready” to issue the new rules, Ms. Fonacier told reporters on Tuesday, but is waiting to sync its reporting framework with the BAP’s own system.

Singapore

Australian telecoms firm MNF to acquire Singapore's SuperInternet GroupThe Business Times 2nd Jul 2018
AUSTRALIAN telecommunications firm MNF Group has agreed to acquire Singapore-based SuperInternet Group for some S$2 million, it announced on Thursday.The ASX-listed MNF Group expects the deal for the niche facilities based operator to be finalised once all customary regulatory approvals are received, which is expected before July 31, 2018.

ICA launches web portal for passport, entry visa applicationsChannel NewsAsia 29th Jun 2018
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has launched a web portal that will allow users to apply for new passports or identity cards for themselves, as well as long-term visit passes and entry visas for their relatives and friends.

Public feedback sought on proposed GST changes for imported servicesThe Business Times 28th Jun 2018
Singapore's Ministry of Finance (MOF) is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that stem from measures announced during the 2018 Budget, it said on Thursday. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced during the Budget that GST will be levied on imported services, including a so-called “Netflix tax” on imported digital services like movie and music streaming, from Jan 1, 2020. The changes will take effect through a reverse charge mechanism for business-to-business imported services, where the local GST-registered business is required to account and pay GST directly to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) on the services it imports. Despite the change, MOF noted that most GST-registered businesses will not be affected as they can claim full refund of the GST incurred on their purchases, while those affected are mainly financial institutions and residential property developers, which do not get full refunds as they make GST-exempt supplies.

Singapore has the most competitive digital economy in AsiaInquirer 28th Jun 2018
Singapore, ranked top in Asia, loses the top spot globally in digital competitiveness while as Hong Kong, ranked second in Asia, slips three places down in global ranking, according to the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, 2018. The report measures the competitiveness of 63 economies based on 50 ranked criteria: 30 Hard and 20 survey data.

NETS launches online self-service application for merchantsSingapore Business Review 25th Jun 2018
The Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) launched its self-service application for merchants through tablets or online and self-collection of retail terminals. The company will also allow self-collection of retail terminals, an announcement revealed.

Online grocers struggle to make a mark in SingaporeSingapore Business Review 27th Jun 2018
Sales of the largest online grocers only comprised 0.6% of the total retail sales. Despite the boom of online shopping in Singapore’s retail sector, Singapore’s online grocery retailers couldn’t seem to find a way to break into the supermarket sector. CGS-CIMB, citing a Euromonitor report, reported that the online sales of Singapore’s largest grocery players, such as NTUC, DFI, and RedMart, only accounted for $206m or 11.7% of total online sales and an estimated 0.6% of total retail sales in the country. Cezzane See, CGS-CIMB analyst, thinks this is largely because Singaporeans prefer to pick groceries or fresh foods on their own.

Thailand

Online to offlineBangkok Post 2nd Jul 2018
Technology and digital disruption are compelling companies of all sizes in all industries to adapt and innovate. The world has seen how even multinationals that once enjoyed enviable success can wither or perish if they fail to keep up -- from Eastman Kodak to Blockbuster or even technology companies such as Yahoo, Nokia and Motorola.

Asean pools knowledge to fight cybercrimeThe Nation 27th Jun 2018
THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation (DSI) on Wednesday hosted a Bangkok seminar for representatives of 10 Asean countries to discuss and exchange ideas on ways to suppress cybercrime. Pinpointing a serious emerging threat in the Internet era, Permanent Secretary for Justice Wisit Wisitsoraat urged all countries to be on alert for digital crimes, which had hit Asean countries recently with serious consequences.

DTAC makes about-face on auctionBangkok Post 26th Jun 2018
After rejecting the national telecom regulator's initial conditions, Total Access Communication (DTAC)'s chief executive has finally committed to entering the 850-megahertz spectrum auction next month after submitting an officially signed letter to the regulator on Monday, says an NBTC commissioner. The latest move came after Lars Norling and his team met the secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on Friday for an informal discussion regarding the regulator's new conditions for the planned 850MHz and 1800MHz auctions.

400 e-waste containers abandoned at Thailand portsInquirer 27th Jun 2018
About 400 cargo containers full of electronic waste, plastic scrap and discarded metal have been left unclaimed at Thailand’s two major ports as authorities crack down on illegal e-waste handling. If they are not claimed within the next 15 days, the Customs Department will either dispose of them or send them back to their point of departure.

Thailand leads in crypto by skipping the big debateBangkok Post 1st Jul 2018
Securities, or not securities. That is the crypto question. Except in Thailand. While regulators around the world have grappled with the issue of what category digital currencies and assets fall into, Thailand has skipped the debate altogether.

Online shopping increasingly unsafe for customersVietnam Investment Review - VIR 5th Jul 2018
According to the Wall Street Journal, on last Thursday (June 28), Adidas revealed a “potential data security incident” that possibly left the contact and login information of millions of Adidas customers in the hands of an “unauthorised party.” As many as “a few million” customers who used the Adidas US website may have been affected by the breach.

Insurance firms plan to go digitalvietnamnews.vn 2nd Jul 2018
Most insurance businesses planned to apply new technologies in management systems and improving customer services, and many also plan to study new products to meet the market’s demand and diversify insurance sale channels, according to a Việt Nam Report survey conducted in May and released last week.

Law on cyber security protects citizens’ legitimate rightsVOV 24th Jun 2018
The recently adopted Law on Cyber Security systemizes Vietnam’s regulations and matches the Constitution as well as international treaties of which Vietnam is a member. The law safeguards national security and protects the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

Vietnamese banks boost IT useVOV 23rd Jun 2018
Vietnam has big potential in applying 4.0 technology to develop retail banks and payment utilities. The Industry 4.0 trend involves a wave of digitalisation, changing the business models and activities of many banks. Nguyen Dinh Tung, General Director of Orient Commercial Bank (OCB), said the participation of digital banks would be helpful for domestic and international enterprises when doing business and investing in Vietnam.

MoT rejects Grab expansion requestVOV 23rd Jun 2018
The Ministry of Transport has ordered GrabTaxi Vietnam Co Ltd to halt a planned expansion; the company will only be permitted to grow within the five localities in their pilot programme. The five localities are Hanoi, HCM City, Khanh Hoa, Danang and Quang Ninh.